Chapter 62

We had headed back to the castle in time to prepare the soldiers that afternoon.

Johnny and Daniel summoned everyone in the castle  to the throne room. They waited for the arrival of the king and queen.

We stood on the thrones in the marble throne room. The room went silent upon entering. Everyone bowed at the same time. My gut cramped with a wave of overwhelming fear. I had no prepared words. I took a deep breath. Mavis stood by me, studying me.

"First of all, thank you all for coming today. Thank you for the continued support in the war. The war won't end easily I fear. I must ask you to all join me in battle against the Vendov Empire. It's time to take back Lafayette, and protect the rest of the kingdom's that the empire threatens."

I saw a few heads nod in the sea of people.

"We will be going through the mountains of Salkon to weaken Vendov's strongest ally. It will be a hard journey, and an even harder battle. But I know that all of us working together can defeat the empire once and for all. We will make preparations today, and leave tomorrow." I said, gaining more head nods.

"Everyone will be split into three units. Lafayette soldiers will follow me, Belmonte soldiers will follow Daniel, and Johnny will be leading the Naporian soldiers. We will be receiving supplies from Darlington shortly." I said.

The room was energized from the battle. The people were ready to take back their home, and seek revenge for the loved ones they lost along the way.

We all ate a hearty dinner in the large dining halls. We ate with the soldiers, as opposed to our private dining quarters.

"Your majesty, do you think Vendov's dragon will be there?" One of the soldiers asked me.

"I am hoping since we have the element of surprise that we won't be seeing the dragon, but it might come upon word of the battle."

"I heard those mountains are cursed." Another soldier spoke up.

"I have been to the mountains once before. Nothing out of the ordinary happened." I said, disregarding the screams Samuel and I heard through the night.

"I will do everything I can to protect all of you. From Vendov, and whatever the mountains had to offer."

Orion passed by with his food. I was hoping he would sit near me and the other soldiers, but he kept walking. He took his strew and sat in a corner, alone.

"Orion looks sad. Do you think him and Daniel are fighting?" Another soldier whispered to another.

I went up to check on him.

"Can I join you?" I asked him.

"I'd rather you didn't." He said shortly.

"I'm really sorry. I wanted to come see you last night. I did."

"But you didn't, is the thing. Nor did you tell me so. We have a battle to focus on, perhaps we should do that." He said, initiating the end of our conversation.

I let him have is peace, brainstorming ways I could make it up to him. Perhaps I could show up at his chambers tonight, I thought. Perhaps I could gift him something, but what? Would that be too forward? Too pushy?

Perhaps I ruined my chances with Orion, and I needed to accept that. Who knows, maybe he wasn't going to say anything romantic in the first place. Perhaps I misunderstood our relationship.

Yet, I tried to stuff my feelings before. It never goes well. They end up spewing out of me like an explosion. My feelings could not remain hidden forever.

I returned to my room after dinner, fortunate to be alone. No Samuel waiting for me by the window. I think of all the things he could have done. He could have killed me. He could have burned the castle. He could have killed my family and made me watch. But he didn't. Perhaps Vendov is finally fearful of Lafayette. Vendov never extended a deal to me before like he did with Belmonte and Naporia.

I feared for Mavis and Daniel. Of course, I would do everything I could to protect him. Mavis would be devastated if something happened to him. He was a fantastic guard, and a good man. I hoped that him and Mavis could somehow find peace after the war finished.

I studied the commands of the dragon. I needed to have them memorized for the battle. If Samuel comes in with the dragon, I would be ready to cease control from Samuel.

Slept came, but not easily. There was so much at stake. My people, my family, my friends. So many people were relying on us to win the war. What would happen if we didn't? We'd be dead, or worse. The remaining people would all live under Vendov's tyrannical rule.

We woke before the sun. Johnny and Daniel finished completing packs for all the solidiers. They armed them with shields and weapons.

We gathered as much gear as we could to be equipped for the mountain's cold embrace. We raided the castle for cold supplies to ensure that the majority of individuals had clothes to withstand the temperatures we were about to experience. Lafayette had winters, but not as cold as the mountains. The nights were brisk without the snow, I did not look forward to bringing innocent soldiers into the cold.

It was time.

Mavis joined everyone with a kind farewell. She wore a deep blue dress. The blue was so dark it was almost black. A contrast to her usual soft and pastel colors. Her hair was completely down. She typically wore it in intricate braids or complex styles, but it was just down. No crown was worn on her head. Her eyes appeared poofy, indicating her crying did not end after we talked the day before.

She paced around the room, talking to soldiers, offering extra food out.

Morale appeared to be high. Our army of soldiers talked to everyone about the upcoming battle. Many were ready.

"Are you sure you want to join us, Galen?" I asked.

"Yes. I may not be of much use on the battlefield, but I can do my best to heal the injured."

"Hopefully it won't come to that but thank you for standing with us." I said.

"Of course, your highness."

"MUST I wear THESE?" I heard a voice screech.

I turned to Charles holding up a pair of thick, brown boots by pinching the corner of them.

"They'll keep you warm." Mavis said, her hands folded together.

"I think I would rather die in something more fashionable. That's more important than being cold."

"Please just bring them then, Charles. Have them for an emergency."

"You're right, Lapis. I knew I could trust your judgment." Charles said. He walked off, stuffing the boots into his bag.

"I'm glad we finally have someone who can speak Charles' language."

"It's rather simple, really. He and I are a lot alike. Both of our wants are reasonable, and our styles are impeccable." Lapis smiled. Mavis slowly nodded.

She slightly lowered her head.

"It's alright. From one queen to another, we can keep each other company. I can catch you up on all the castle rumors I've heard."

Mavis forced a smile.

"I cannot wait."

Lapis looked up, I caught her eye. She left Mavis and approached me.

"Remember how much I have at stake here, Zander. The prophecy." She reminded me, as if I could forget the weight of the world.

"I didn't forget, your majesty. I will do everything I can to ensure victory. I promise."

"Excellent. But I think you're forgetting something." Lapis said.

"What would that be?" I looked down at what I was wearing. I was well dressed for the cold, to the point where I was getting hot in the castle.

When I looked up, Orion was approaching. He was carrying something.

"Your crown, Zander. A king cannot go into battle with a crown."

"I don't think that is necessary." I said.

"It is tradition." I insist." Lapis insisted.

I looked at Orion. His eyes met mine.

My head lowered. Orion placed the crown on top of my hair. The weight of it immediately pressed down on me.

I lifted my head, meeting his ember eyes once more. We didn't speak.

"Wonderful! Now you should be ready." Lapis said with a growing smile.

Our gaze lasted another moment, before Orion pulled away. His eyes dropped to the floor, as he stepped back from me.

"It's time, your highness." Daniel said.

I felt like I was being grouped up on. I was surrounded by everyone who had high expectations of me, and if I didn't meet them, there is a good chance that they all would be dead.

"Alright. Let's head out." I said.

Mavis hugged me.

"Please come back to me, my dear husband. And bring everyone back with you." She said, her voice soft and sad.

"I will." I said, afraid of being stuck in a lie.

With that final farewell, we marched out of the castle and past the gates.

Johnny and Daniel's soldiers followed behind them. Orion, Charles, and Galen followed in the row behind us. The sea of soldiers were mainly traveling on foot. Dozens of men and women were ready to take back their home, I just hoped it was all enough.

The temperature did not take long to drop. Belmonte to Salkon was not a long journey, but a brutal one.

At the border, we began to trek through the mountains. We made our way upwards. As expected, the cold rushed its way through. Legs became weak with the difficult incline. The horses did not do well with the incline, their ankles wobbled.

"Let's walk the horses up. We have to be careful with them." Daniel suggested.

"The horses' ankles can't handle it? What about mine!" Charles complained.

Despite resistance, even Charles eventually obeyed. We took our horses by the reigns and carefully went up the mountain.

A thick, cold drop fell down the back of my neck. It was followed by a second droplet, harsher than the first.

In a flash, it began to snow. The snowfall became heavier, quickly filling the ground with a hard blanket of snow. The snow was heavy, like we were being pushed down into the ground. It was hard to look forward; our faces blistered with harsh snow. We pushed through the snow, it being up to our ankles and only growing higher.

"Keep going! We have to get through this!" Johnny commanded, tying her scarf tighter around her neck.

We trudged through the snowstorm. Visibility dropped as it got darker earlier. It was already hard to see, but the darkness made it impossible. We fell behind.

Daniel trudged up to me, his face blistered with cold. His mouth was covered by a scarf.

"We need to stop for the night. We can't see where we're going. Our soldiers are freezing." Daniel said.

"We're already far behind. What if Salkon finds out we're here? They could ambush us through the night." I said.

"I think we have a better chance surviving if we stop. No Salkon soldier is going to attempt to cross the mountains tonight." Daniel said.

"Alright. Let's stop here. Set up camp, get everyone warm."

"Yes, your highness." Daniel said.

We stopped in the snow. For a moment, everything was quiet. Only the wind would torment us. We pushed up our small tents around the mountain side. The stakes were impossible to dig in the snow, and stab into the frozen ground.

We all helped each other assemble the tents for the night. Many soldiers began to bunch into the small tents to share heat.

We lit lanterns, allowing some light as we assembled.

"It's so f-fucking cold." Charles shivered, his volume weakened from his chilled state.

"Everyone, get inside the tents, and seal them up as best as you can. Stay close together to conserve heat. Use whatever we have to stay warm. We will make it through this snowstorm." I said.

After the soldiers huddled in the smaller tents, I began assembling the royal tent. I had never used it before, it appeared a little bit bigger than the others.

The cold snow stung my hands, despite them being gloved. My head and hair was wet from the cold.

Daniel came over to help me once he finished with the others.

"It's alright, Daniel. I can get it."

"I'm here to help, your majesty." He said.

I remembered Mavis's wishes. To protect Daniel at all costs. I couldn't disappoint her, or anyone I was taking into battle.

"It's almost up, I'll be alright. Please warm yourself. You won't be any use to us if you're as frozen an ice block." I said.

"I can help." A familiar voice said. Orion insisted on taking Daniel's place.

"Alright. Thank you. I'm going to check on the soldiers again, make sure no one has frost bite." Daniel said.

He left me and Orion putting up the tent together. We finished it. It stood tall, it's fabric was thicker than the other tents.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked Orion.

"I should probably get back to helping the others."

"Please, Orion. It's freezing out here. Come inside, just for a moment." I said.

Orion did not speak but followed me into the tent.

I entered inside the tent, closing it tightly. A lantern inside of the tent was the source of light that illuminated the tent.

I opened the pack with the rest of the kit inside. It was full of blankets, pillows, books, even a small, wooden stool. I wondered why previous royals would travel with so much unnecessary items. I guess the king's would not be the ones carrying it.

I spread it out, creating a small sleeping area.

"Alright, I can feel my toes again. I should go." Orion began to leave.

"Orion, wait!" I stopped him from leaving.

"I'm sorry about the other night. I really am."

"You promised you'd be there, Zander. I know promises shouldn't be a heavy agreement, but I thought you would come. I thought.." His voice trailed off. He turned to leave. I knew I couldn't let him leave again.

"Orion! I'm sorry.. It wasn't because of you. I was so excited to go and see you. I wanted to smell like vanilla for you. When I got to my room to bathe...Samuel was there."

He took a sharp turn around.

"Samuel was in your chambers? Did he hurt you?" Orion's ember eyes fueled with fire.

"No, no. Well, not physically. He wanted to make a deal."

"A deal?"

"I think he and your father are getting worried about their odds in the war. I think he sent Samuel to try to make a deal with me.. I tried to be strong. I thought I could handle him. He manipulated me again." I said.

"What did he do to you? Did he trick you into a deal? I will kill that bastard."

"No. I didn't let it get that far. I just made some questionable choices. I am so angry at myself for it. I can't believe I fell for his evil tricks for even a moment. Not only that, I ruined whatever we could've been."

Orion stepped closer. His fire like eyes crackled into mine.

"You didn't ruin it. I'm right here." His bare hand reached for mine. Our freezing hands connected, creating an intimate warmth.

"I'm sorry Samuel played with your heart again. He's a monster."

"I'm sorry I didn't go that night. I was so worked up about Samuel and so angry at myself."

"Zander, please be kinder to yourself. You didn't ruin anything. I have something to say.." He took a breath.

"I've been trying to say it for a while, but it's hard. When I first came to your kingdom, I didn't know what to expect. If you killed me on the spot, I couldn't blame you. You trusted me when no one else did. Spending time with you only made me like you more." He took a breath and brushed his fingers on his dagger.

"But you bringing me the dagger confirmed my feelings. You took the time to think about me, and what I would want. You found the last piece of my sister I will ever have, and you were considerate on how it could make me feel.. When I look at this dagger, I don't think of the evils of the world anymore. I think of kindness; and that kindness is you."

Orion's hand parted from mine, and gently stroked my hair and face. The cold wind could not extinguish his ember eyes.

"I know you're going through a lot. I don't even know if you feel the same way about me.. I just had to say. Zander I l-."

He stopped and pulled his hand down.

I knew what he wanted to say. I also knew he feared what the morning light would bring. As did I.

I grabbed his chilled hands and pulled him inward. I stretched my neck out to reach him, our lips collided. I could no longer be passive, we didn't have time to lose.

We warmed each other's lips. It felt like my stomach was bombed with butterflies, creating a warm sensation from the explosion. I was no longer cold. The warmth of his love wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. Our lips parted for a moment, my forehead rested onto his.

"You don't have to say it. I feel the same way." I said.

Orion leaned in for more. His fingers ran through my damp hair as our lips pushed off each other's. It was a game of catch with our tongues, only both of us were winners.

His kisses moved from my mouth to my neck, as he gently sucked on my neck. I let out a hefty breath.

I released the latch off my cloak, causing it to crash on the tent ground. My attention turned to Orion's cloak. I reached for the latch on his dark cloak. My fingers grazed the clasp.

"Do you want to?" I asked him, gazing into his eyes.

"More than anything I've ever wanted in my entire life." He whispered, grasping me tighter.

He ripped off his cloak and turned his attention back to me. His lips lingered onto my neck, before aggressively peeling off my layers of clothes.

He pushed me back onto the makeshift bed, an assortment of pillows and blankets on the tent floor. I pulled off his belt, freeing his pants. I added his shirt to the stack of clothes we would have to sort through in the morning.

My hands explored his scarred body.

Every part of my body was sensitive to his heat. He  pulled down on my top and continued to kiss my body.

I let out another breathy moan as Orion began to pleasure me in the middle of a snowstorm.